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Tag: sabah

  • Political Consultant: Malaysia At Serious Risk Of Attack By ISIS

    Political Consultant: Malaysia At Serious Risk Of Attack By ISIS

    Malaysia is at serious risk of an attack by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) militants, a political consultant warns.

    In a report carried by CNBC, head of Alavan Business Advisory Alastair Newton said security warnings about the terrorist threat in Malaysia “should be taken seriously”.

    “It is far from clear where, outside its ‘heartland’, Isis will strike next. But strike it will. And one region which appears to be at serious risk is Southeast Asia,” Newton was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

    Newton was referring to warnings earlier this year by foreign governments that terrorists were planning attacks in and around Kuala Lumpur, following a series of explosions in Jakarta on January 14 which killed seven.

    Australia in February advised its citizens to exercise normal safety precautions across Malaysia, urging them to avoid all travel to the coastal resorts of eastern Sabah, including islands, dive sites and associated tourist facilities because of the high threat of kidnapping.

    New Zealand classified travel to the area as “high risk”, while the United Kingdom warned citizens against travel to coastal islands in Sabah, near the Philippines, citing high threats to foreigners of kidnapping and criminality.

    In Malaysia, meanwhile, authorities said the country would remain on high security alert after terrorism analysts said Isis was now spreading its operations beyond the Middle East and Europe to Asia.

    Security measures were increased in public areas, such as malls and tourist spots, while precautionary measures were said to be taken at border areas to prevent possible terrorist infiltration.

    Police have arrested 157 suspected militants, including 25 women since 2013. They were believed to be involved with various levels of militant activities.

    The latest was at the end of January, when seven people were picked up in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Pahang, Johor and Kedah for suspected links with Isis. Police seized a cache of bullets for various types of firearms, including those for the M16 assault rifle.

    The three-day operation was a follow-up to the earlier arrest of a man at an LRT station in Kuala Lumpur on January 15.

    The seven were said to be planning attacks at several popular spots in the Klang Valley as well as other states. Among those detained was a cell leader, a Sabahan, who works as an assistant manager of a hotel in Johor.

    Another suspect arrested in Johor was a 33-year-old factory store supervisor.

    One of the seven was also identified as the cell’s fund manager, whose task was to collect and channel funds to those wanting to go to Syria and for carrying out attacks.

    The man, aged 50, was arrested in Kedah and had worked as a cendol seller. He was assisted by another detainee, aged 26 from Terengganu, who was planning to join Isis in Syria.

    The counter-terrorism unit had also found out that one of those arrested had been in communication with Bahrun Naim, the Indonesian founding member of Khatibah Nusantara Muhammad, and whom Indonesian police said orchestrated the Jakarta attacks on January 14.

    Another one of those arrested had been in contact with Malaysian Isis recruiter, Muhammad Wanndy Mohamed Jedi, also known as Abu Hamzah.

     

    Source: www.themalaysianoutsider.com

  • TKPS Principal: We Are Healing

    TKPS Principal: We Are Healing

    “We are regaining our strength. We are healing as a TKP (Tanjong Katong Primary) community,” said Principal Caroline Wu during a media briefing on Monday (Jun 29).

    The school reopened following the June holidays, during which seven students and two teachers lost their lives after an earthquake hit Mount Kinabalu. A total of 29 students and eight teachers were on an overseas learning journey in Sabah when the 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck on Jun 5. They were scaling Mount Kinabalu at the time as part of the school’s leadership course called Omega Challenge.

    To support the student population, Mrs Wu said they would be taught “coping strategies, as well as values and resilience” during the form teacher guidance period. She added that affected students will be supported, and has been, since they returned from Sabah.

    The school also has four counsellors now, after two new ones were brought in as part of the Education Ministry’s efforts to support the school.

    “I’m really very confident that with the support from our parents, and resilience from our staff as well as our students, we will be able to bounce back and recover. We will emerge from this stronger,” Mrs Wu said.

    The principal had addressed about 700 students from the Primary Three, Four and Five levels during the morning assembly on Monday, and will address Primary One and Two students later this afternoon. She had addressed the Primary Six cohort last week.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Families And Friends Remember Sabah’s Selfless Guides

    Families And Friends Remember Sabah’s Selfless Guides

    In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck Sabah on Jun 5, Channel NewsAsia visited the families of three mountain guides who lost their lives in the tragedy.

     

    KOTA KINABALU: Mount Kinabalu looms large in Sabah, physically and spiritually.

    At 4,095 metres above sea level, it is one of the tallest mountains in Southeast Asia. Wherever you go in Sabah, you can get a glimpse of its imposing presence. Its peak, though often shrouded in mist, looks majestic on a clear day.

    For the indigenous Kadazan-Dusun tribes, Mount Kinabalu is also the sacred resting ground for the departed. They hold on to this belief, even though the majority are now Christian.

    In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck Sabah on Jun 5, Channel NewsAsia visited the families of three mountain guides who lost their lives in the tragedy.

    “JOVIAL, CONTAGIOUS, HAPPY-GO-LUCKY”

    Marius Salungin had ten siblings. His brother, Joseph Selungin, was the youngest. Marius remembers him fondly.

    “We laughed a lot when we were around him,” Mr Salungin said, when asked to describe Joseph, who died in the earthquake with two climbers.  “Because he told us a quite a lot of jokes. He was fun to be with. That’s him.”

    Marius Salungin lost his brother Joseph Selungin, a mountain guide, in the Sabah earthquake. (Photo: Ray Yeh)

    “One of the guides found him,” he continued. “He told us that he was holding two customers.”

    The guide that Mr Salungin had referred to is Mohd Sharul Lizam, who said: “I knew what he was wearing, what backpack he was carrying, so I could confirm that was Joseph. He was covering his two climbers. They cuddled. But rocks fell on top of them.” None from the group survived.

    Joseph Selungin was 33 years old. He is survived by his wife and two children aged four and two.

    To help them cope, Mr Salungin said: “We discussed among our siblings in the family and we will try to help our best. And as for now, I think the donations that have come in will help the family. Hopefully the wife will be able to handle the money well.”

    Joseph Selungin’s funeral service on Jun 10. (Photo: Shushan Lam)

    Mr Salungin also told Channel NewsAsia that he would “tell Joseph’s children that their father was a very responsible person, also very jovial, contagious and happy-go-lucky.”

    “He would have wanted the children to be successful and be like the father, responsible and to have positive characters.”

    “HE WOULD BE A GOOD FATHER TO MY CHILDREN”

    Valerian Joannes and Jessica Sikta got engaged in December last year and had planned to tie the knot in November. But Mr Joannes, who was on the ropes atop Mount Kinabalu when the earthquake struck, died in a rock slide with 10 young students and teachers from Singapore.

    “He told me that the children were very young,” said Ms Sikta, 25. “Before this, he only took adults.”

    Valerian Joannes and Jessica Sikta on their engagement day. (Photo: Jessica Sikta)

    Mr Joannes, who was 28, had worked as a Via Ferrata trainer for three years.

    His fiancée told Channel NewsAsia that he loved kids. “He would pinch them on the cheeks, but he cannot hurt the children,” she said. “If we had children, I’m sure he would have been a very good father. But now it’s only a dream that will never come true.”

    For their wedding, Mr Joannes had planned to surprise her with a song he composed and performed. “He was very talented and he was a good singer,” she said. “The last song he was able to give us was titled ‘I will hold your hand.’

    “In the song, he said that every relationship goes through rough times, but we are always able to get back together.” Ms Sikta explained, while the song played in the background. “And then he sings, please forgive me.”

    Jessica Sikta remembering her fiance. (Photo: Shushan Lam)

    It is believed that Mr Joannes had time to get out of harm’s way after the earthquake, but died trying to save some of students.

    “If he is still with me now, but the kids are gone, I know he would not be happy,” said Ms Sikta. “He would have been traumatised.” She believed “that’s why God took him”.

    “PROUD THAT HE DIED FOR A REASON”

    Sapinggi Ladsou, 56, had 10 children. Of the five boys, four became mountain guides like himself. Robbi was one of them.

    “We feel the impact of Robbi’s passing,” Mr Ladsou told Channel NewsAsia. “It’s not just losing one child out of 10 children.”

    Robbi Sapinggi a few months before the earthquake struck. (Photo: Nelson Chua)

    According to eyewitness accounts, Mr Sapinggi, 30, had survived the initial rock fall after the earthquake. Badly injured, he instructed his climber to descend without him, because he wanted to help others on their way down the steep slope.

    He died shortly after rescuers found him a few hours later.

    “We received many messages from Robbi’s ex-clients. They told us how Robbi had helped and encouraged them,” said Lynn Thiang of Amazing Borneo, the tour company that worked with Mr Sapinggi.

    “If you have climbed Mount Kinabalu before, you would know many people wanted to give up right before reaching summit because it was very tiring,” said Ms Thiang. “But Robbi would encourage the climbers and give them the confidence. We are all proud of Robbi, that he died for a reason.”

    Robbi’s funeral. (Photo: Amazing Borneo)

    The veteran mountain guide left behind his wife, Reena Joshi, and their 6-month-old baby. Ms Joshi, a UK national, met Robbi seven years ago while travelling through Sabah.

    “Her family is worried about her,” Mr Ladsou said, “so I want her to stay here, so that we can help her.”

    Ms Thiang also said: “Robbi really loved his son and I’m sure he wants to see that his son is well taken care of.”

     (Photo: Ray Yeh)

    THE SABAHAN SPIRIT

    Visiting bereaved families and friends so soon after the tragedy struck, Channel NewsAsia’s producers did not expect the warm welcome extended to us from everyone we met along the way. In those few days, we witnessed another kind of spirit that lives in Kinabalu’s mountains.

    It is the spirit that transcends human instinct to run from danger, to save lives. It is also the spirit that welcomes strangers into one’s home amid personal grief and sorrow.

    The locals call it the Sabahan Spirit. And it is this spirit that will help the communities pull through and rebuild.

    This article is Part 3 of a special report on the Sabah Earthquake. Part 1: For the guides who survived the Sabah quake, a long road to recovery. Part 2: Mount Kinabalu guides still cut off from livelihoods. Catch documentary special Heart of Courage: Sabah Guides on Channel NewsAsia, Jun 23, at 8.30pm

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Remains Of TKPS Teacher, Student Arrive Home At Last

    Remains Of TKPS Teacher, Student Arrive Home At Last

    The remains of Tanjong Katong Primary School (TKPS) teacher Mohammad Ghazi Mohamed and student Navdeep Singh Jaryal Raj Kumar — the last of the 10 from Singapore who died in the Sabah earthquake to be identified — were flown home yesterday.

    Although their remains were identified last week, further DNA tests prevented an earlier return. The 10 were on a trip to Mount Kinabalu when an earthquake struck on June 5.

    A funeral was held yesterday for Ghazi at Kampung Siglap Mosque, attended by a large crowd that included Ghazi’s family, friends, colleagues and students. At one point, mourners had to queue to enter the auditorium where his casket was held. Inside the auditorium, a bouquet of white flowers lay on top of Ghazi’s casket. Mourners surrounded the casket, many of them silent in prayer.

    Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the funeral, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said: “I thank the Malaysian authorities for expediting the work to allow us to bring the bodies of Ghazi and Navdeep earlier than we had expected.”

    Among the mourners was TKPS student Isaac Lee, one of Ghazi’s former students. The Primary 3 student said he always looked forward to Ghazi’s physical education classes, describing them as really fun.

    A friend of Ghazi, who declined to be named, said the teacher’s passing was “a huge loss to the school”. “There’s hardly anything negative to say about him,” he said. “He was a true, loyal friend who helped you when you were in need.”

    Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim, who also attended the funeral, was one of the pallbearers who helped carry Ghazi’s casket into the van that brought the body to Pusara Aman Muslim Cemetery in Lim Chu Kang for burial.

    Holding back tears as he spoke to the media, Dr Yaacob, who is also Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, said: “(He was) such a young man whom (according to) the stories you hear was selfless, very dedicated.”

    He added: “I suppose the most important thing for us is … to perhaps take his spirit forward. The things that he has done for his schoolkids, for his family — you must find some way to (let his legacy live on).”

    Speaking after the burial, Mr Mohd Faizal, one of Ghazi’s colleagues from TKPS, said Ghazi, who leaves behind a wife and three children, was “happy-go-lucky”.

    “I never saw him under stress, and it rubbed off on all of us,” said Mr Faizal, 28. “I have lost an elder brother. He was more than a colleague, and that will never change.”

    Mr Heng said support would continue to be provided to the family members and students affected by the earthquake. “Our students in Tanjong Katong Primary School are recovering well. They are doing fine, and the principal and school leaders have put up a plan to bring them back to school when school reopens so that they can continue with a normal routine,” he said.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Old Victorian’s Association Mohammad Ghazi Bin Mohamed Memorial Fund

    Old Victorian’s Association Mohammad Ghazi Bin Mohamed Memorial Fund

    Victoria lost one of her beloved sons to the recent earthquake in Sabah. As a big Victorian family, we mourn the loss of a dear brother and extend our deepest condolences to his family.

    Ghazi left behind his beloved wife and 3 very young children, aged 5, 3 and 1 years old.

    The Old Victorians’ Association (OVA) is embarking on this fund raising initiative and is appealing to all Victorians and friends to come forth and do your part by donating any amount towards this fund. ALL monies raised will be presented to the family of the late Mohammad Ghazi and we hope the amount raise will aid them financially in one way or the other.

    Here’s what you can do:

    1. Write a cheque payable to OLD VICTORIANS’ ASSOCIATION.
    2. Write your NAME, CONTACT NUMBER and indicate GHAZI MEMORIAL FUND at the back of the cheque.
    2. Mail your cheque to: Old Victorians’ Association c/o Victoria School, 2 Siglap Link, Singapore 448880

    Fund Raising Cut off date: 30 June 2015

    If you have any enquiry, please do not hesitate to email:
    [email protected]

    Once a Victorian. Always a Victorian.
    Nil Sine Labore

     

    Source: www.ova.org.sg